As we get older, many face two different but related threats to our brains. On one hand, the chances of sleep apnea increase. Our risk of dementia or Alzheimers also increases. Unfortunately, if you have untreated apnea, your chances of Alzheimers increases. But there is a solution.
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that disrupts air flow while asleep. Apnea patients wake-up tired, foggy and are at risk of associated illnesses including Alzheimer's. What is the connection to the brain? People with untreated apnea receive less and less oxygen to their brains while their bodies are trying to recoup from the day's activities.
Besides dementia or Alzheimer's, sleep apnea puts you at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. This is only the short list of related risks.
Treating apnea is safe and very effective. The most common treatment is CPAP (continual positive air pressure) therapy, which requires the patient to wear a mask to bed each night. Due to a steady stream of pressurized air your throat airway remains open, preventing the pauses in breathing that come with apnea. This airflow keeps oxygen levels healthy.
Does treating apnea really help Alzheimers? Recent clinical research from a study by Dr. Jana R. Cooke of UC San Diego focused on 52 participants who had Alzheimer disease and apnea. Some patients were six weeks of real CPAP and the others were placed on pretend CPAP. Patients on real CPAP not only got more sleep, they also showed improvements in cognitive function.
According to new clinical research, when Alzheimers disease patients with OSA were treated with CPAP, an increase in the total amount of sleep at night was what helped improvements in cognition.
Clinical studies have proven that CPAP therapy will help increase oxygen levels to the brain. This benefits the brain function especially in patients with impaired memory, dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Other problems exist for older adults with sleep disorders:
1. Higher chances of depression
3. Lack of concentration and poor memory.
3. Daytime drowsiness.
4. The chance of falling at night increases.
5. Abuse of prescription sleeping pills (the worst part, many pills make your apnea worse). - 20896
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that disrupts air flow while asleep. Apnea patients wake-up tired, foggy and are at risk of associated illnesses including Alzheimer's. What is the connection to the brain? People with untreated apnea receive less and less oxygen to their brains while their bodies are trying to recoup from the day's activities.
Besides dementia or Alzheimer's, sleep apnea puts you at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. This is only the short list of related risks.
Treating apnea is safe and very effective. The most common treatment is CPAP (continual positive air pressure) therapy, which requires the patient to wear a mask to bed each night. Due to a steady stream of pressurized air your throat airway remains open, preventing the pauses in breathing that come with apnea. This airflow keeps oxygen levels healthy.
Does treating apnea really help Alzheimers? Recent clinical research from a study by Dr. Jana R. Cooke of UC San Diego focused on 52 participants who had Alzheimer disease and apnea. Some patients were six weeks of real CPAP and the others were placed on pretend CPAP. Patients on real CPAP not only got more sleep, they also showed improvements in cognitive function.
According to new clinical research, when Alzheimers disease patients with OSA were treated with CPAP, an increase in the total amount of sleep at night was what helped improvements in cognition.
Clinical studies have proven that CPAP therapy will help increase oxygen levels to the brain. This benefits the brain function especially in patients with impaired memory, dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Other problems exist for older adults with sleep disorders:
1. Higher chances of depression
3. Lack of concentration and poor memory.
3. Daytime drowsiness.
4. The chance of falling at night increases.
5. Abuse of prescription sleeping pills (the worst part, many pills make your apnea worse). - 20896
No comments:
Post a Comment